UN Issues Damning Ukraine Report as Pro-Russia Militia Fortifies Its Position

Following yet another night of heavy fighting with Ukrainian forces on the outskirts of Slovyansk, today the pro-Russia militia redoubled its efforts to fortify its positions, moving anti-tank weaponry onto most major routes in and out of the city. Snipers in military fatigues lined the road as gunmen worked with cranes and trucks to lift concrete slabs into place, constructing a new uber-checkpoint on the highway towards the city of Soledar.

Despite the regular exchange of shelling and gunfire over the last week, neither side appears to have made a significant inroad into the other. Speaking at a press conference today, separatist leader and self-appointed mayor of Slovyansk Vyacheslav Ponomarev claimed his rebel fighters have killed over 600 of their enemies, but casualties on both sides most likely stand at around a dozen.

Vyacheslav Ponomarev speaks about the losses of the Ukrainian army.

On Thursday night a rebel issued ultimatum for the Ukrainian troops positioned on the outskirts of the city to withdraw expired.

Appearing in front of television cameras on Wednesday night, Sergey Zdrilyuk, the right-hand man to the militia's commander Igor Strelkov, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Ukraine forces stationed on the outskirts of the city. Playing anxiously with a pen and smoking he told press, that there would be "no negotiations."

Ukraine rebels’ ultimatum expires as election edges closer. Read more here.

Meanwhile, the UN has released a damning report into the deteriorating human rights situation in eastern Ukraine.

Speaking in Geneva, UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay said “those with influence on the armed groups responsible for much of the violence in eastern Ukraine must do their utmost to rein in these men who seem bent on tearing the country apart."

The report condemns the violation of the right to peaceful protest, attacks on demonstrators, and the failure of local security forces to protect people. It emphasizes the persecution of pro-Ukraine forces in the east.

The leaders of the Donetsk People’s Republic, which came into existence less than one week ago following an internationally condemned referendum on independence, have criticized the report for being one-sided.

Russia's foreign ministry also struck out, claiming that the report ignored “the crudest violations of human rights by the self-proclaimed Kiev authorities" and “lacked objectivity.”

More than 40 pro-Russia protesters were killed when they were trapped inside a building in Odessa that was set on fire during clashes with pro-Ukraine protesters earlier this month.

At least seven more were killed, including unarmed civilians, during a heavy-handed assault by the Ukrainian army on a pro-Russia group holding administrative buildings in Mariupol.

Tensions are rising in the region as Ukraine’s presidential elections edge closer. A spate of kidnappings and buildings seizures have threatened the likelihood of the scheduled May 25 vote going ahead in the rebel-controlled pockets of the east.

Donetsk steel and coal oligarch Rinat Akhmetov now seems to be putting words into action in his bid to back the country’s unity. Following months of tepid statements urging separatists to look at alternative options, on Thursday night the tycoon brought workers from his steel factories on to the street to provide security and dismantle the rebel barricades that had been set up around the city.

The initiative has been “very effective,” Akhmetov’s spokesman told VICE News. “It has restored trust into the community where there were major concerns that the police were unavailable.

“These local people in their work uniforms without arms are helping to protect their community and create a peaceful and calm environment that will allow a successful free fair and transparent election in Mariupol next weekend,” he added.

The spokesman for the Kiev-appointed governor, Sergey Taruta, also an eastern steel and coal oligarch, told VICE News that Akhmetov’s cooperation was “vital” to ensuring the presidential elections in Donetsk oblast take place.

Rinat Akhmetov released a statement on May 14 urging a “united Ukraine” and outlining his thoughts on the way forward for the country.

Watch all of VICE News' Russian Roulette dispatches here.

Follow Harriet Salem on Twitter: @HarrietSalem